My Year of Meats

As she films a 52-part series on wholesome American beef for Japanese television, director Jane Takagi-Little of New York realizes she is doing her viewers a disservice and sabotages the show. Part expose of unhealthy production of meat, part cross-cultural view of America.

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Fascinating yet a bit disturbing investigation on the cultural implications of meat interwoven with ideals of gender identity. I couldn't put it down but you might want to reconsider reading over a hamburger lunch break (or at least be sure of where the beef came from).

Wendy McLeod

mjkedzior
Oct 14, 2013

I never would have picked up this book without a recommendation. It was wonderful, funny and thought provoking. Now I will keep a look out for this author.

Jane Takagi-Little is a starving documentary filmmaker who finally lands a job producing a Japanese television show promoting BEEFEX (US beef export agency). She takes her crew on the road in search of all-American wives cooking all-American meat, and to her surprise finds that this assignment raises questions not just about her own life, but also about sex, love and fertility. Aikiko is a Tokyo housewife who each week has to cook the “Meat of the Week” from the latest episode of the TV program My American Wife! for her husband, an advertising executive working with BEEFEX. Ozeki brings these two worlds together, tackling questions concerning the beef industry, cultural differences, gender roles and sexual exploitation. You will laugh and later cringe reading this novel whether you are a vegetarian or just looking for a fantastic, funny and thoughtful read.

LProfeta
Aug 22, 2012

Looking for a president of female gender, people laugh and that's when I know it's right, why drag forever, why ladies, for sure help with heart!

I loved this book, I could barely put it down! I enjoyed the juxtaposition between the different cultures along with all the different romantic relationships. It was very humorous and also heartfelt. I'm a vegetarian and found the presentation of the meat industry in this fashion very interesting and enlightening.